Oxford United: "Promotion - Whatever It Takes!"

The former Portsmouth manager, who replaced Ian Atkins as U's boss yesterday, said that he was excited by the opportunity he has been given.

Rix lead a training session yesterday and was more than satisfied by what he saw.

He said: "I was impressed with the players' attitude, which was spot on, but also their technical ability.

"Oxford are not near the top of the table for nothing. They are well organised and work hard for each other.

"The priority is getting out of that division – we need to be in the second division.

"They've obviously gone off the boil in the last few weeks, which with everything going on is understandable to a certain extent.

"But I really enjoyed it this morning."

Rix said that chairman, Firoz Kassam, spoke to him over the weekend to ask him to help out.

"It's like a day-to-day thing at the moment, I suppose," he said.

"The chairman phoned me at the weekend to say he was in a spot of difficulty. I've just come in on a temporary basis.

"I'm just excited to be back in football. It's what I need, what I miss and this morning I really enjoyed being out there with the chaps, passing on 30 years' experience."

Rix will make his managing debut for the club against Division 3 leaders Doncaster and said: "Saturday's a massive game. I'm a Doncaster boy actually, so my career's gone full circle."

Will the team tactics change?

"I want us to get promoted, that's all. If we have to do that by kicking it 80 yards, we'll do it by kicking it 80 yards. If we do it by playing football, we'll do it by playing football," said Rix.

"It's my first day, I'm new to the guys and they're new to me. We'll wait till Thursday or Friday before I make any real decisions.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge and excited, and the lads' response to what I said this morning was good. They seemed to have smiles on their faces."

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